Prince Charming

Chapter 16

Taylor seriously considered delaying their departure by another day. Getting all of their purchases packed and ready was going to take more time than she'd thought. The twins were into everything and made her task ten times more difficult. Georgie had made a pretend house in one of the extra trunks Taylor had purchased, and Allie was jumping up and down on anything that didn't move. Taylor's patience was sorely tested, and by noon, she believed it wasn't possible to get everything done. She fed the children, then put the twins down for a nap, and went back to organizing her things. Daniel was David today and he helped her.

Taylor tried not to think about Lucas. Tears sprang into her eyes twice during the morning for no apparent reason at all. She finally admitted the galling truth to herself. She missed him. Oh, how she wished she'd nagged the full story out of him about the man he was going to hunt down. She didn't think she would worry as much if she knew all the facts. She assumed Lucas was going after a wanted man, which translated to mean a dangerous man, and the longer she thought about it, the more concerned she became.

Her worries multiplied. She received a wire from Harry Sherman, the banker in Boston, informing her that her uncle Malcolm had petitioned the court to throw out his mother's last will and testament. He used the shameful reason that she was mentally incompetent and was under a terrible strain. Sherman added the news that until the matter was determined by the court, the accounts in England couldn't be touched. It was taking Malcolm's legal advisors longer to convince the American banks to cooperate.

Victoria had only just walked into the room when the wire arrived. She was alarmed by the news. Taylor wasn't at all surprised. She had expected her uncle to use every ploy possible to keep the money from slipping through his greedy fingers. It took her a few minutes to figure out how Sherman had tracked her down though, and then she remembered she'd given the banker in Cincinnati her temporary address when she'd signed the bank drafts and had a portion of her funds transferred.

The news of her whereabouts traveled with lightning speed. She and Victoria had only just agreed to wait until tomorrow to leave when a second wire was delivered. This one didn't just surprise Taylor. It scared the hell out of her. Malcolm had tracked her down. He wished to inform her that he had petitioned the court in London for custody of his grand-nieces and had just been awarded his request. He was sending armed escorts to collect the twins and bring them back to England, where he could watch over them.

"How did he find out about Georgie and Allie?" Victoria asked. "You were hopeful he wouldn't find out their father died, weren't you?"

"He's done his homework," Taylor whispered. She was in such a panic she couldn't seem to make her hands stop shaking. "Madam named the twins in her will. The money she left for Georgie and Allie is a considerable amount. As their guardian, Malcolm must think he'll have control over their inheritance. Oh, God, I don't know any of the legal ramifications. Will the authorities here help him take the babies? Do the American courts have some sort of agreement with England?"

"We'll have to find out," Victoria told her. "When we get to Redemption. I can be ready to leave in fifteen minutes."

They checked out of the hotel a half hour later. Taylor left a note for Hunter, purchased the tickets at the station, and they were all on their way to Montana Territory a short hour later.

Hunter spent the day combing the city, looking for suitable lodging. He returned to the hotel late that evening and was given the news of Taylor's departure. He had to read the note she'd left him twice before he believed it. The daft woman thanked him for his kindness, explained she'd paid for his room, and ended her letter with the wish that he would come calling for supper once she and Victoria and the children were settled in their new home in Redemption.

He thought she had lost her mind. He packed his bag, left a note with the hotel staff to give to Lucas when he returned, and then went running to catch the next train.

His mood was as black as the night. Taylor and her sickly friend were both crazy. What in God's name could they be thinking? They were out of their minds all right, and after he finished blistering the both of them with his opinion of their outrageous plan, he was going to take on the real culprit. Ross. By God, their friendship had limits. Chasing after two demented women went way over the boundary. Lucas owed him, and if that red-headed woman threw up on him one more time, he might have to shoot Lucas to even the score.

By the time Hunter boarded the midnight train, he was in a rage. He'd come to the conclusion he never should have befriended Lucas Ross in the first place. And if he had it all to do over again, he sure as certain wouldn't have stolen that useless, dull-bladed paring knife in the first place.

The journey to Redemption took Taylor and her crew eight full weeks. They went by train to Sioux City, Iowa. They stayed there for two days so the children could run and play, and so that Taylor could purchase a few last-minute supplies. The first on her list was a large wagon. There were plenty to choose from, and it didn't take her any time at all to complete the transaction. Finding four sound horses took her much longer. She spent a long while making up her mind. The cost was outrageous, but she knew that if she waited to make her purchases in Fort Benton, the price would be sky high.

Hunter caught up with them just as they were boarding the riverboat called the Midnight Blue. Taylor had chosen the larger more spacious riverboat because it carried both passengers and cargo. The cost for a cabin was an exorbitant one hundred and twenty-five dollars, which she was happy to inform Hunter when he tried to get her to turn back.

Lucas's friend had developed a rather severe twitch in his cheek by the time she finished explaining her plan to raise the children in Redemption. Then he tried to drag her, Victoria, and the three little ones back to the train station.

He didn't care how much money she'd spent. He suggested she throw all her money away. She wasn't going to need it once Lucas caught up with her. Dead women, he told her with a glare, didn't need cash.

Taylor wasn't impressed with his scare tactics. "You can either assist us or you can leave us," she announced. "We would dearly love to have your company," she graciously added. "Isn't that right, Victoria?"

Her friend snorted. Hunter's face started to turn red. Victoria marched up to him, folded her arms across her noticeably expanding middle, and said, "Either way, we're going to Redemption."

Taylor was praying he would decide to stay. They could certainly use his help, his strength, and his protection. She nudged Victoria in her side to get her to quit glaring at Hunter.

Victoria wasn't going to back down. "Yes, we would appreciate your company," she said. "But…"

"You're going either way, right?" Hunter snapped.

She nodded. He knew when he was beat. He threw up his hands in despair and then went to secure a cabin for himself.

Late that evening, after Taylor and the children had gone to sleep, Victoria went up on deck to get some fresh air. Hunter's room was directly across from hers. As soon as he heard her door open and close again, he followed the woman. He wanted to make certain she stayed out of trouble. She was a good-looking woman and would certainly attract attention. For the cost of just twenty-five dollars, anyone could secure passage on the riverboat, provided he was willing to sleep up on deck and bring his own supply of food. Men with unsavory backgrounds who traveled the river from town to town looking for easy money would find Victoria a sweet little morsel. She was too much of a lady to know how to ward off the drunken ones. She'd get into trouble all right. She was also Taylor's friend, which meant she didn't have a lick of sense either, and until Lucas caught up with them, Hunter felt it was his duty to look out for her.

Victoria was leaning against the railing looking up at the stars. There were two men sitting on the deck at the far end of the rail, smoking cigars and watching her. She didn't seem to notice her audience. One of the men started to stand. Hunter moved so that he stood between Victoria and her gawking admirers. The man sat back down again.

He couldn't blame them for looking. Victoria was a sight to behold tonight. She'd taken all those pins out of her hair and left the curls unbound. She looked beautiful. He had to remind himself he didn't like the woman. It didn't work. He still wanted to run his fingers through her thick, fiery curls.

"You shouldn't be up here alone, Victoria." He deliberately made his voice mean so he'd scare some sense into her.

"Have you ever seen so many stars, Mr. Hunter?"

"Yes," he answered. He stopped himself from smiling. "When did you decide not to be afraid of me?"

She didn't look at him when she gave him her answer. "When I realized you were a little afraid of me."

He leaned against the rail and looked up at the heavens. "You've got it all wrong, lady. I've never been afraid of you."

She wasn't going to argue with him. The night was too lovely to be marred by bickering. She propped her elbows on the edge and looked out into the night.

"Captain says we'll make a hundred miles a day."

"We'll have to stop every morning to take on wood to use for fuel. Because of the size of the riverboat, I imagine we'll need around twenty-five to thirty cords a day."

"Will we be able to get off the boat and stretch our legs while the wood's being collected?"

"Yes," he answered. "When's your baby due?"

Her eyes widened over the question. Mr. Hunter had obviously noticed her thickening stomach. "September," she answered.

Neither one said another word for a good five minutes. It wasn't an awkward silence. Hunter shifted his weight, his arm touching hers. She didn't move away.

"Did your husband know you were pregnant before he died?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any idea of the hardships ahead? Giving birth in the wilderness will be difficult, Victoria. There won't be any medical help if it's needed. You'll be on your own, and if there are complications, there won't be a damned thing anyone can do about it."

"Are you deliberately trying to frighten me?" she asked.

"There's time to turn back," he countered. "I'm trying to make you realize you'll be better off in the city."

He sounded as though he really cared about her. Victoria started feeling guilty because she'd lied to him about having a husband. Hunter was a good, honest man. It wasn't right for her to deceive him. She'd seen the way he helped Mr. Ross search for the children.

She lied because she didn't want him to think ill of her. And that only made her guilt worse. Her own reaction to Hunter confused her. His opinion mattered more than she wanted to admit. She was drawn to him and thought perhaps it was because he was so strong. She always felt so unsure of herself. He was a commanding figure, intimidating really, with those dark eyes and that brooding look. His hair was long, almost shoulder length, and the color was as black as a panther's. He reminded her of the magnificent cat, for he moved with the same grace.

Victoria didn't realize she was staring at him until he pointed out her rudeness. She apologized. "Mr. Ross mentioned your grandmother was an Indian."

"Yes."

"I was wondering…"

"Yes?"

"Are all Indians as handsome as you are?"

She blushed as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She felt foolish and ignorant. She was an unmarried, pregnant woman. She should have known better than to act like a silly schoolgirl. "I shouldn't have said that to you. It was terribly forward of me. I meant no harm," she added in a rush. "And you must surely be used to hearing women tell you…"

"Was your husband handsome?"

Hunter didn't know why he was so curious about the man she'd been married to, and he knew he shouldn't be asking her questions about him. She was still in mourning, for God's sake, and here he was prodding at her to dredge up painful memories.

"He wasn't handsome," she answered. "But love is blind according to William."

"He said that?" he asked, jumping to the conclusion William was her late husband. "I'm not so certain that's true."

"Of course it's true. William wrote it down."

He shrugged. She asked him a question then. "Do you care what other people think about you?"

"No."

"I do," she admitted. "Some of the time," she hastily qualified. "And I only care what certain people think of me." And so I lie, she thought to herself. She let out-a sigh. She suddenly wished she hadn't told Hunter she was married.

"'My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,' " she whispered, repeating one of her favorite quotes from Shakespeare.

"What did you say?"

She repeated the quotation, then added, "They're William's words, not mine."

Hunter decided that the man she'd been married to must have been some sort of fancy high-brow scholar. She couldn't have lived with her husband very long. She wasn't old enough. But she'd certainly loved him. Why else would she have memorized everything he'd ever said to her. The longer he stood there staring at her, the more she quoted the Englishman.

"It won't matter that you're in mourning," he warned her. "Men will come calling. They'll fight each other to win your hand."

"I'm never getting married."

"Don't you mean you're never getting married again?"

"Yes, of course," she blurted out. "Again." She sounded vehement. He wanted to argue with her. Just because she had loved one man so passionately didn't mean she couldn't love again.

"Women are scarce where you're going," he pointed out. "Hell, people are scarce. You're going to get lonely. I'd wager you'll be married in a year. Mark my words."

She let out an inelegant snort. Then she turned the topic. "Are there many women in Redemption?"

"Not living in the town," he answered. "But there are two a day's ride away."

He didn't look like he was jesting with her. "Just two?" she asked.

"Ma Browley and her sister, Alice Browley. They're both pushing sixty."

"What about homesteaders?"

"What about them?"

She let out a sigh. Mr. Hunter was starting to get edgy. She wondered what had caused the change in his mood. He'd been perfectly pleasant for several minutes. Now he was becoming surly again.

"You'll probably die out there."

"Perhaps I will," she agreed. "What does it matter to you?"

"It doesn't."

She straightened away from the railing. "I'm a strong woman, Mr. Hunter. You might be disappointed."

She left him leaning against the railing and went back to her cabin.

The days and nights followed a set pattern. Every morning, the Midnight Blue stopped to take on the day's wood supply. The captain was usually able to purchase the cords they would need from enterprising families who had already cut and stacked the wood. Other days, the male passengers were asked to help with the cutting and the carrying.

The children were allowed to leave the riverboat and play along the shoreline. Hunter put a stop to the activity a few days later. He gave Taylor a one-word explanation: snakes. She immediately took the little ones back on board.

Hunter had his hands full watching out for the two women. They were too damned pretty for their own good. They attracted attention the way dogs attracted fleas. Thankfully Taylor was usually worn out by suppertime. She went to bed when the children did. Victoria was the problem. She was restless at night and liked to go up on deck. Hunter always followed her, and they always ended up in an argument. Inevitably she went back to her cabin in a huff. And that was fine with him. He had had his fill of all the clever little sayings her William had said to her. The man sounded like a pompous ass to him. Hunter never much cared for flowery language. If you had something to say, then say it.

It was a sunny Monday afternoon when Hunter notified the captain they would be leaving the riverboat the next morning. Then he went to tell Taylor to have her bags packed and ready.

"But we aren't even close to Fort Benton yet," she informed him.

It only took him a second or two to realize she wasn't jesting with him. Then he became furious with her. "You planned to go all the way to Fort Benton and then by wagon to Redemption?"

Taylor rushed over to her valise and pulled out her map. She waved the paper in front of Hunter's face. "According to my map, we must go to Fort Benton and then we backtrack."

He snapped the map out of her hand and looked at it. Whoever had drawn the thing had to have been drunk. There were forts all along the Missouri, but only one had been named and marked. "Did you want to backtrack over a hundred miles?"

"No, of course not, but without proper trails, I thought… Do you mean we could take a shortcut?" Hunter turned around and started for the door. He knew if he stayed a minute longer, he'd start shouting at her. The woman didn't even know where she was going.

"Be ready," he muttered on his way out the door. ' The following morning, while Taylor kept watch over the children, the crew of the Midnight Blue unloaded their horses, wagon, trunks, crates, and valises. Hunter counted their supplies and decided they were going to need a second wagon. He found a suitable one in Jilly Junction. He separated the weight between the two wagons. He wasn't happy with Taylor's selection of horses, but after looking over the stock available for purchase in Jilly, he decided they would have to keep what they had. Oxen would have served them much better for the load they had to carry.

The wagon ride to Redemption took over a week. The landscape was magnificent. The colors of spring were everywhere. There were brilliant pink, red, purple, orange, and white flowers sprinkled all over the carpet of lush greenery. Taylor was overwhelmed by the beauty of the wilderness. Every afternoon she would collect a sampling of flowers she'd never seen before, and at dinner, Hunter would tell her what they were called. There were wood blossoms, Indian paintbrush, arnica, and white monkeyflowers and others he didn't know the names of and so he called them just plain wildflowers. There wasn't anything plain about the area. It was a kaleidoscope of color. Taylor felt as though she had been dropped into God's paradise. With each turn in the trail, there was something new and wonderful to see and appreciate. Sometimes she would become so overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of it all, her eyes would become teary and she would speak in a whisper.

The children were in awe of the animals they spotted. They laughed when they saw a mule deer because of his funny, giant ears. Georgie chased a whitetail doe and Daniel boasted he'd gotten close enough to almost touch one of her fawns.

The air affected Taylor as well. It was so pure and light, it made her dizzy. She felt such tremendous peace. Although she had never been to Redemption, she was already calling it home.

There were a few irritants, of course. Taylor wore white gloves to protect her hands the first day, but her fingers were still rubbed raw from gripping the reins. The following morning she put on a pair of old work gloves Hunter had. They were too big, brown in color, and really quite unattractive. She loved them.

Daniel had been a sweet, uncomplaining child until Taylor put Georgie in Hunter's wagon to ride with him for the morning. Allie wanted to sit next to Taylor and have a turn helping to hold the reins. The little boy couldn't be in two places at the same time and pitched a fit worthy of applause when his sisters were separated. His show of temper astonished Taylor. He was furious with her because she wouldn't change her mind. He kicked the wheel with his bare foot and then let out a howl of pain loud enough to scare a grizzly bear away. Taylor lifted him onto her lap and soothed his temper while Victoria rubbed the sting out of his foot. Daniel didn't want to be placated, however. He wanted things done his way. He ended up sitting in the back of Taylor's wagon and wouldn't talk to anyone for over an hour.

Taylor was secretly pleased with Daniel's behavior. He was obviously feeling safe and comfortable enough to let his guard down. The pretense of being a perfect little gentleman was finally wearing thin, and the real child was emerging. Daniel could be as obnoxious as any other seven-year-old, and she couldn't have been happier.

After the second day out, Hunter got stuck with Georgie. He didn't realize it was deliberate until the fourth morning. The little girl would squeeze herself up next to him on the seat, her baby doll in her lap, and talk from the minute the wagon started moving until they stopped for lunch. He was usually considering putting a gag in her mouth by then. Georgie rode with Taylor every afternoon and always took a long nap with her sister.

Victoria and Taylor both loved the evenings, for it meant they were another day closer to their destination. They prepared supper together over the fire Hunter started for them. They were terrible cooks and so they only fixed simple dishes. Taylor made pan biscuits every night. They weren't too bad if they were loaded with strawberry jam. Victoria fried and burned the fish Hunter caught and deboned for her. It was usually trout and incredibly delicious. They added apples from their store of supplies and whatever else they could think of that was easy to prepare.

Daniel and Georgie would eat anything Taylor put in front of them. Allie was the persnickety one. She wouldn't eat any food that touched any other food on her plate. If the biscuit were accidentally placed too close to the fish, the two-year-old wouldn't eat either offering. She was specific about her apples as well. Taylor had to peel it, core it, and then cut the apple into four sections, just like she'd done the first time she'd fixed the fruit for the child. And God help them all if Allie's fingers got sticky. The usually sweetnatured child would carry on something fierce until her hands were washed and dried.

Each one of them had his or her own peculiarity. Victoria always got a burst of energy as soon as the sun went down. Daniel still insisted on sleeping with his boots in his arms, and Georgie always talked until she fell asleep. The sound of her voice became her own lullaby.

Hunter became cantankerous every evening. He'd feel it was his duty to once again remind them that it still wasn't too late to turn back. When Taylor and Victoria wouldn't agree, he'd lose his patience.

Taylor was usually in a good deal of pain by the end of the day. The muscles in her shoulders and back would feel as though they were on fire. She didn't want to listen to Hunter's comments about how foolish she was, and on the night before they reached Redemption, her temper exploded. She told him she was pretty certain she had already aged at least twenty years, that she was sure she looked a fright, and that she ached from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She couldn't do anything about her appearance or her pains. She could do something about his behavior, however, and if he didn't stop reminding her she was crazy, she just might have to prove him right.

She was too distraught to think of anything substantial enough to threaten him with. He wouldn't have believed her anyway. She turned around and walked back to her wagon. She hurt so much she wanted to cry, but she didn't give into the luxury because it would have required too much energy.

Hunter must have realized he'd been too hard on her, because the next morning, he didn't shake her awake at the crack of dawn. She and Victoria both slept until after nine o'clock. Georgie's laughter woke them up.

Victoria stayed behind to wash and dress, but Taylor put on her robe and went looking for the children. They were easy to find. She simply followed the sound of Georgie's voice.

Hunter had taken the trip to the creek. He sat on the bank, his rifle next to his side, watching over the children. Daniel had just put on his socks and pants and was struggling to put on his boots.

"Always turn your boots upside down and shake them real good before you put them on in the morning," Hunter advised.

"Why?" the child asked.

"Critters sometimes crawl inside during the night," Hunter explained.

Taylor ducked under a branch and walked forward. Her eyes widened when she saw the twins. They were both stark naked and soaking wet. Allie was sitting in the stream combing her baby doll's mop of hair while Georgie jumped up and down so water would splash up around her.

The water was as clear as air. Hunter had chosen a spot deep within a grotto where the water level was only a couple of inches. Further down the line of trees, the creek spilled into a much deeper pool.

Neither twin was shivering. Taylor assumed the water wasn't too cold for them. She suddenly wished she could join them. She longed to wash her hair and smell like her rose-scented soap instead of horses and old leather.

Allie was the first to spot her by the trees. "Mama," she cried out. "I'm washing baby." Taylor smiled. She took a step forward. "I can see you are," she called back. "Good morning, Mother."

Taylor turned to her son. "Good morning, Daniel. Did you sleep well?"

"I'm going to be David today," he informed her. "I guess I slept well. I didn't wake up."

Taylor started walking toward the edge of the stream. Georgie was trying to carry handfuls of water to her. At least she thought it was Georgie. Taylor based her conclusion on the fact that the twin was chattering away about the game she was playing.

Taylor kicked off her shoes. She didn't stop when she reached the water's edge. She kept right on going, much to the children's delight. Hunter was as surprised. He let out a burst of laughter, which Georgie immediately imitated.

When she sat down in the middle of the stream, dressed in her nightgown and robe, even David cracked a smile.

Victoria came strolling around the bend in the trees to find out what all the commotion was about. She took one look at Taylor and burst into laughter.

While Taylor played with her daughters, Victoria went back to the wagons to fetch soap and towels. She washed Allie's hair and Taylor washed Georgie. David promised he'd already washed his own. He was thoroughly engrossed in the task of cleaning his boots.

After the twins had been scrubbed clean, Taylor put the pair on a blanket next to Hunter, and then went around the curve in the stream to the deeper water. She took off her gown and robe and then took her bath. Victoria stood on the bank with Taylor's gun in her hand, and it was only after her friend had washed her hair and finally started getting dressed that she admitted she didn't know how to shoot the weapon. Taylor promised to teach her as soon as they were settled in their new home.

Victoria took her turn next. David came to check on the women. Hunter had sent him to find out how much longer they were going to dally. Victoria sent back the message in a shout Hunter was sure to hear that she wasn't going to be rushed.

Taylor sat down on a blanket, put her gun in her lap, and started to dry her hair. Her gaze settled on the far bank, for she'd noticed a movement in the brush but couldn't see what was causing it. Victoria was oblivious to her surroundings. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. She'd lathered her hair up and was now rinsing the soap out. David grew bored and went back to play with his sisters.

Another movement caught Taylor's attention. She squinted against the sunlight but still couldn't see anything beyond. She made up her mind it was just the wind causing the leaves to sway. Then she saw the eyes. They were yellow. The outline of the body appeared next. It was a cat of some sort and without a doubt the biggest thing she'd ever seen.

She'd read in one of her novels that cats didn't go into water. They were afraid to get wet. This cat didn't know he was supposed to be afraid. Taylor slowly stood up and took aim. The animal was edging forward again. He looked ready to jump. She started to call a warning to Victoria. A hand clamped down over her mouth, effectively stopping her.

"Don't make a sound and don't move."

Hunter gave the command in a low whisper next to her ear. Taylor froze. She didn't even nod to let him know she'd heard. She guessed his worry. If Victoria stood up in the water, she would put herself between the cat and Hunter's rifle.

Neither Taylor nor Hunter was watching Victoria now. Their attention was riveted on the monstrous cat.

Victoria was having the time of her life. She made another lazy dive, rolled onto her back under the water so her hair wouldn't cover her face when she surfaced, and then stood up. She faced Taylor. She started to smile, but then she spotted Hunter and let out a gasp instead. Her hands covered her breasts under the water.

She suddenly realized they were watching the bank behind her. Hunter had his rifle ready. He was squinting through the sight. She was afraid to turn around. Her gaze frantically turned to Taylor again. Her friend silently mouthed the words "Get down." Victoria's knees went weak and she slowly sank down into the water.

The cat sprang into a high arch. Hunter fired twice in rapid succession, though he was certain he killed the mountain cat with his first shot. The animal landed with a splash just a few feet away from Victoria.

Victoria shot out of the water and stared at the animal as it sank to the bottom. Then she let out a piercing scream and collapsed backward into a dead faint. Hunter fished her out. Victoria was sputtering and crying. As soon as Hunter lifted her into his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. Taylor tucked a blanket around her friend for modesty's sake.

The children came running to find out what had happened. Taylor took them back to the wagons. Victoria was sobbing now, and Taylor thought she could use a little privacy until she got control of her emotions. It had been a frightful experience. Taylor noticed her hands were shaking when she put her gun away in her apron. The twins were wide-eyed and silent while they listened to her explain what had happened. Georgie wanted to go and see the cat. Taylor wouldn't let her. She dressed the little girls, combed their hair, and had just finished tying their shoes when Allie let out a piercing scream. She had only just noticed her baby doll was missing.

Taylor's nerves were already frayed, but she held onto her patience. She put the twins side by side up on the seat, told them not to move, and then started to go back to the stream. Her son offered to go for her.

"You stay here, Daniel," she ordered. "I'll be right back. Allie, stop that screeching. I'm going to get your baby."

"I'm David today," her son reminded her. "Did you forget?"

This name business was getting out of hand. Taylor turned around. "Why don't I call you Daniel David until you make up your mind?" she suggested. "It would be easier for me to remember."

"Two names?" He smiled over the possibility.

"Yes," she agreed. "Two names."

"But what if I want to be David Daniel instead of Daniel David?"

Here we go again, Taylor thought. She left the boy to mull over his choices and muttered her way back to the creek. The doll was on one of the rocks near the water's edge. She didn't reach down to pick up the toy, however, but took a hasty step back instead. A snake with brown speckles all over it was coiled on the rock next to the baby doll. It was making a rattling sound and watching her, Taylor froze and started to call out to Hunter. She could hear Allie wailing in the background, and all that suddenly mattered to her was getting the doll so the child would stop screaming. Hunter wasn't always going to be around to take care of her and Victoria and the children. Lucas wouldn't be around either, she realized. She was going to have to stand on her own two feet, even when she didn't want to.

She took the gun out of her apron. She wished the snake would just slither away so she wouldn't have to kill it, and then another thought changed her mind. What if she had sent Daniel to fetch the doll?

Taylor took aim and killed the snake with one clean shot. The force of the bullet lifted the snake up and backward into the water.

Hunter was kissing Victoria and liking it entirely too much when the sound of gunfire pulled him back to reality. He put Victoria down, grabbed his rifle, and started toward the sound.

"Taylor," he roared.

"It was just a damned snake, Mr. Hunter," she called back.

Victoria had also started to go to her friend. Hunter stopped her by grabbing hold of her arm. He was going to tell her to stay put until he found out what had happened, but once Taylor shouted her explanation, he should have let go of Victoria. He didn't. She was adjusting the blanket to cover her breasts, her head bowed.

"She killed a snake," she whispered and then peeped up to look at Hunter.

"No, she killed a damned snake," he corrected.

Victoria nodded. "I would have gotten hysterical. Taylor got mad. Why did you kiss me?"

It didn't take him anytime at all to come up with a suitable lie. "To get you to stop crying."

"Oh," she sighed.

He couldn't make himself stop staring at her. God, she was lovely. Her eyes were the prettiest shade of green he'd ever seen, and her hair looked like bronzed fire to him. She had a splattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. He resisted the urge to kiss them.

He was out of his mind to think about such things. For a moment, he'd forgotten who she was and what he was. A lady and a half-breed. It was an impossible combination. "You going to stand here all day?"

The anger in his voice stung her pride and pricked her temper. "Only until you let go of me."

He immediately pulled away from her and went back to camp. She followed him at what she considered was a respectable distance.

They were finally ready to leave a half hour later. Allie was still upset. She barely touched her breakfast. She didn't want a wet baby doll. She wanted a dry one. Taylor couldn't reason with the child. She finally took the doll and pinned it to the top of the canvas covering the wagon and explained to the teary-eyed twin that the sun would dry the doll in no time at all. When that promise didn't soothe Allie, Taylor declared the baby doll was having a nap.

Georgie wasn't helping matters. She was tormenting her sister with her own doll. It wasn't even noon yet and Taylor felt as though she'd already put in a full day.

They would reach Redemption by late afternoon, and that was the root of her worries. She was anxious about meeting the people who lived there and even more concerned about finding suitable lodgings.

Hunter added another worry by casually mentioning that Lucas could very well be in the town by now, waiting for them. She didn't believe it would be possible until Hunter convinced her. If his business in Chicago hadn't taken long, he could have taken the train from Cincinnati to Sioux City, then jumped on one of the many riverboats constantly traveling up and down the Missouri.

"That would still put him days behind us," she reasoned.

Hunter shook his head. "He won't be riding in a wagon," he pointed out. "Or spending time buying supplies like you did in Sioux City. He'll be riding a horse, Taylor, and taking all the direct routes a wagon couldn't get through. He could be there all right."

Taylor prayed Lucas hadn't gotten there ahead of her. She wanted to be settled in first. Then she'd deal with him. She knew he was going to be furious, and she couldn't help but become nervous over the prospect of facing his wrath.

Hunter was smiling while he hitched up the horses. Taylor concluded he wanted her to worry. She decided to get even with him. She waited until he'd taken up the reins of the second wagon and then carried Georgie over to him. He gave her a look that told her he knew why he was being saddled with the chatterbox. She shrugged back at him. Then she handed him Allie.

Georgie was squeezed up on his left side and Allie sat on his right. She was still wailing like a wounded animal.

Hunter looked down at the child. "You going to cry much longer?" he asked.

She nodded. Hunter laughed. The sound filled the woods around them. It proved contagious as well. Taylor found herself smiling, and when she looked at Victoria, she caught her smile as well.

Everyone waited on Daniel David now. He stood between the two wagons, trying to make up his mind which one he wanted to ride in. He didn't particularly want to be separated from his sisters, he explained when Taylor asked him why he was taking so long, but he didn't think the two women should ride all by themselves.

Hunter made up his mind for him. He told the boy to get into his wagon and be quick about it. Daniel David didn't hesitate. Taylor concluded he liked having the decision made for him.

Hunter took the lead down the last hill into the valley. Daniel David sat in the back of the wagon watching Taylor for almost an hour. He'd wave every five minutes or so and then smile when she waved back to him. The child finally grew bored with his vigilance and climbed up on the seat next to Allie.

They reached the last gentle slope a little after two in the afternoon. They could see the town clearly now. It was nestled between snow-capped mountains and rolling hills. Mother Nature's glory was all around them. Taylor imagined she'd used her paintbrush to splatter the hillside with every color in the rainbow.

She'd run out of paint when she reached Redemption. Taylor's first impression of the town was one of disappointment. Victoria looked appalled by the sight. Lucas had been right when he told her the town wasn't more than twelve or fourteen buildings. She'd been prepared for that reality. She had to brace herself against the ugliness. Every single building was brown and dirty.

Hunter led them into the center of the town. There were wooden walkways on both sides of the dirt roadway. Everything had been constructed out of wood, and Taylor tried to imagine how pretty the town would be if the buildings were painted.

"Look, there's a general store," Taylor pointed out to her friend.

"There's a saloon right across the street," Victoria said. There was a bit of criticism in her voice.

"I wish it weren't so quiet."

The women kept their gazes straight ahead. They were attracting attention and trying not to notice the men gawking at them.

They were everywhere. They stood in doorways, hung out windows, and leaned over hitching posts. No two men looked alike, of course, but their expressions seemed identical. They all looked stupefied.

Word of the women's arrival spread as fast as a flash flood. Before the two wagons reached the hitching posts in front of the general store, the entire town had turned out to look them over. All nineteen of them.

Victoria didn't guess at the number. She counted just to be certain.

Taylor didn't know what was expected of her. Should she smile and call out a greeting? Or would that be considered too forward? She wanted to start out right. She just wasn't certain how.

The crowd was edging closer. Several started making hooping sounds. Hunter looped the reins over the posts and then turned to help Taylor to the ground.

"Why isn't anyone talking?" she whispered.

"They're having trouble believing what they're seeing," he answered.

Taylor let out a sigh, ordered herself not to be nervous, and then took off her bonnet.

Bedlam broke loose. Everyone pressed forward to meet the woman. Hunter waved them back. He lifted Taylor to the ground and then turned back to the crowd. "She's Ross's wife."

A man in a checkered shirt and baggy pants stepped forward. He had an unruly gray-streaked beard, a giant-sized nose, and dark brown eyes. He squinted at Taylor and moved closer. "I haven't seen a pretty woman in so long I've forgotten what they look like."

"I ain't never seen any as pretty as these two," another man shouted. "We quit thinking of Ma and Alice Browley as women years ago."

"Back away, Cleevis," Hunter ordered. "Let the women breathe."

"I just want to get close enough to catch her scent," Cleevis admitted.

Taylor could feel herself blushing. She straightened her shoulders and edged her way around Hunter. She heard the man named Cleevis take a deep indrawn breath when she passed him, then cry out in what sounded very like ecstasy, "Roses. She smells like roses, men."

"If that don't beat all."

Taylor couldn't stop herself from smiling when she heard that odd comment. She made her way to the back of Hunter's wagon and pulled the flap back just enough for her to look inside.

Georgie was wide awake. She'd obviously just used the chamber pot and was now letting Daniel David fix her bloomers for her. Taylor took over the chore and then lifted the two-year-old into her arms.

The twin wanted to get down until she saw all the men staring at her. Then she wrapped her arms around Taylor's neck and buried her face in the crook of her neck.

Hunter was trying to assist Victoria to the ground. Every time he reached up for her, she'd shake her head at him.

"You can't sit there all day," he snapped. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

"I didn't suppose you would," she whispered back. "Besides, I can take care of myself. I'm not afraid."

"Prove it."

She decided to do just that. She took off her bonnet, tossed it into the wagon behind her, and then accepted his assistance in getting to the ground.

Everyone was plying Taylor with questions. They spoke in low voices and when it dawned on her they were whispering so Georgie wouldn't become any more frightened, she lost her own nervousness.

"Where are you headed, Mrs. Ross?" a man with thick eyeglasses asked her.

"We have arrived at our destination, sir," she answered. "We're settling here."

"Is the red-headed one married?"

A young, freckle-faced man in the crowd called out the question. Taylor turned to look at Victoria. She thought she might want to answer the inquiry. Victoria wasn't paying any attention to her. She had latched onto Hunter's arm and wasn't going to let go. He was trying to peel her fingers away from him.

"She was married," Taylor explained. "Her husband died just a few months ago."

No one seemed to be particularly sorry to hear the news. Victoria received three marriage proposals before she'd circled the wagon to stand next to Taylor.

"I'm in mourning," she announced. "And I happen to be an expectant mother."

Neither statement made any difference to the men. They didn't even know her name and they were still pleading for her hand in marriage. One gentleman told her he'd be more than willing to let her keep the baby.

Victoria considered kicking the offensive man. Taylor laughed. Georgie was finally ready to explore her new surroundings. Taylor walked over to the steps and put her down on the wooden walkway. Georgie immediately ran inside the store.

Taylor straightened up and then took a hasty step back. Another man, wearing a thick, long-sleeved gray undershirt and blue overalls, had worked his way around the crowd and now stood towering over her. He was a giant of a man, at least six and a half feet tall, with huge shoulders and brawny arms. He had long brown hair and a thick beard. He was quite frightful looking, and he was waving a newspaper like a madman in front of her nose.

She swatted the paper away. "Whatever are you doing, sir?"

"You a reader?"

"Excuse me?"

He bellowed his question the second time. Taylor's ears started ringing.

"If you're asking me if I can read, the answer is yes."

Her admission pleased him. He let out a shout of satisfaction that very nearly knocked Taylor off the steps.

Victoria walked carefully around the giant and went into the general store. Several men chased after her.

Daniel David climbed out of the wagon and hurried to stand next to his mother. Taylor introduced him to her audience.

Hunter watched her. She told the men that Daniel David was her son. Someone tried to challenge the notion, but Taylor's stare stopped the protest cold.

"Daniel David is my son," she repeated. "I am his mother and Lucas Ross is his father."

She scanned her audience, daring them to disagree with her. No one said a word. Several nodded their acceptance. Taylor was satisfied. She happened to glance over at Hunter and saw him smile. Then she turned back to her son. She patted him and suggested he go inside the store and find out if there were any peppermint candies for sale.

"But Allie…"

"I'll get her," Taylor promised.

The little boy ran inside. Taylor walked back to the wagon. Allie was still sleeping soundly. She closed the flap and turned to Hunter. He nodded before she could ask him if he'd watch the wagon. She smiled at him and then turned to go inside.

The giant followed her. He had the newspaper tucked under his arm. Victoria was visiting with the owner. She introduced him to Taylor. The man's name was Frank Michaels, and he couldn't have been more pleased to meet her. He pumped her hand up and down for a good minute. His enthusiasm was heartwarming. Frank was approximately fifty years old. He wore spectacles with a crack in one of the lenses and had narrow shoulders and gnarled hands. His eyes held her attention. They were hazel in color and radiated warmth. So did his smile. He kept telling her over and over that he was as pleased as punch to meet her.

Georgie took off for the back of the store. A few seconds later, Allie appeared in the entrance. She was leaning against Hunter's leg, staring at the crowd.

"She's a quick one, she is," Frank Michaels announced. "She must have run like lightning to get around to the front so quickly."

Allie spotted her mother and ran to her. She had her baby doll in her hands. The owner squatted down close to the child. Allie immediately hid behind Taylor's skirts. Then Georgie came tearing around the corner. Mr. Michaels did a double take.

"Twins," he whispered.

"When you have a minute to spare, I'd surely appreciate your attention, Mrs. Ross."

The giant made the request from behind her. Taylor turned around and immediately dodged the newspaper he was waving in front of her face.

"Could you read this?"

"Yes, of course I could," she answered. She tried to hide her exasperation from the strange man. "I've been reading for years, sir."

"Now, Roily, she only just got here. Let her catch her wind. You don't want to bother her with the paper." The owner made the protest on her behalf. He let out a little groan as he straightened up again and pressed the palms of his hands to his lower back.

"You have a handsome family, Mrs. Ross."

"Thank you, Mr. Michaels."

"I'd be pleased as punch if you'd call me Frank."

"Then you must call me Taylor," she replied.

"I'd be honored to," Frank told her.

Roily wasn't going to be deterred or ignored. "She gave me her agreement, Frank. I heard her clear."

Taylor didn't know what he was talking about. Before she could ask what it was she had just agreed to, Roily took hold of her hand, tucked it tight under his elbow, and pulled her back to the doorway. Roily had to pass Hunter in order to get outside. The giant stopped, gave Hunter a worried look, then muttered, "Hunter." He added a nod to complete the greeting.

Hunter was just as ungracious. He frowned at Roily, nodded his greeting, and then added his name in a grudging tone of voice. "Roily."

They proceeded on. Roily stopped when they reached the steps. He bellowed his order. "Get the crate, boys. We got us a reader."

A resounding cheer went up. Taylor was astonished by the reaction. A crate appeared out of thin air and was placed on the boardwalk next to her. She stared down at it and then turned to look up at the giant again.

He handed her the paper and lifted her up to stand on the crate. Another man dragged out a rocking chair from the store. Roily nodded to the man and then took his seat.

"Mama, what are you doing?" Georgie asked.

Taylor looked down at her daughter and shrugged. "I don't have the faintest idea," she whispered.

"Your mama's going to read us the news," Roily explained. He gave Taylor a wave. "Get it started, then."

Taylor looked at Hunter to see what he thought about the man's behavior. Hunter was standing just outside the entrance to the store, looking bored and unconcerned.

She unfolded the paper. It was the Rosewood Herald. She had never heard of the town. Then she noticed the date.

"Why, this paper's two weeks old."

"It's still going to be news to us," Roily explained.

"We used to get lots of papers from the mining camps clustered up in the mountains," another man called out. "But we all prefer the Rosewood Herald, don't we, Roily?"

"It seems we do," he agreed.

Taylor was dying to ask if her first impression was accurate. Didn't any of them know how to read? She didn't wish to offend their feelings, however. She had to be wrong, she thought. In this advanced day and age, surely some of them could read.

She decided to take a roundabout way of finding out. "Who read the paper before I was given the honor?"

Everyone looked to Roily to answer. "Well, now, Frank usually did the reading. Then his glasses got cracked, and he hasn't had time to get them fixed."

"Then there was Earl," someone called out.

Roily nodded. "We weren't partial to his reading. He had a hacking cough that got in the way of the news."

"Henry read once," Frank reminded Roily from the doorway.

"He stuttered," Roily interjected. "Drove me crazy," he added with a nod. "I almost shot him."

"You did shoot him," Frank reminded the giant.

Taylor's eyes widened. Roily clarified his action. "That was for a different reason. Get it started," he ordered Taylor once again.

She looked over the crowd of men, their expressions earnest, expectant, and she did the only thing she could do. She read.

They wouldn't let her skip any section. She was expected to read every word in print. It took her close to forty-five minutes, as the paper was four sheets thick, and she counted her blessings Roily hadn't handed her the Denver Post. It would have taken her hours to read the paper. She was interrupted with hoots of laughter over anything the least bit humorous and long discussions over the bad news.

Her audience was very appreciative. When she finished reading the last notice and folded the paper, they clapped and shouted their thank-yous. Someone she hadn't met yet told her she had a right nice pretty voice.

Taylor felt that she'd learned two things. The first was the fact that the men craved hearing news from the outside world. They obviously weren't content to live in their own little realm, they wanted to know what was going on all around them. They weren't passive Americans, and from the heated way they debated the issues, she realized they all took an active interest in their government. The second thing was about Roily. The other townsmen gave the giant a wide path. He sat all by himself, and from the looks some of the others cast his way, she concluded they were afraid of the giant. He seemed harmless enough to her.

Taylor jumped down off the crate and handed the paper to the man. "Here you are, Mr. Roily. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a hundred things to do before nightfall."

The giant stood up. "We'll see you Sunday then?"

"Sunday?"

"For the reading," he explained. "Harrison brings the paper on Fridays or Saturdays. We would all wait until Sunday to hear you read."

"I would be happy to read on Sunday," she agreed.

Roily bowed to her. "I'd be willing to show you my appreciation, Mrs. Ross." He turned to glare at the crowd. "It's only right."

Heads bobbed up and down in rapid succession. Taylor surmised Roily didn't want to be seen as thoughtful or courteous.

"Is there something in particular you might be needing?" he asked her.

"We need lodging, Mr. Roily," Taylor explained. "Could you tell me if there are any vacant houses in the area? I know it's probably wishful thinking on my part, but we'll be more than willing to live in an abandoned soddie for a while. Do you know of anything?"

Roily smiled at her and then turned to the audience watching from the street.

"She's wanting a house, men. Anyone disagree?"

The giant waited a full minute and then turned back to Taylor. "It's settled."

"What is settled?" she asked.

"Your house," he explained. "We'll start building you one tomorrow."

Her mouth dropped open. Roily picked up the rocking chair and took it back inside. As he passed her, he suggested she pick her spot this afternoon.

He wasn't jesting with her. She told him he was being overly generous. He told her he didn't mind. No one else minded either, she realized. One gentleman told her the only way they could be certain she'd stay on is if they provided a home for her.

"We don't want Ross hiding you in the mountains," one earnest-looking young man admitted.

Frank Michaels had stayed outside to listen to Taylor read the paper. He had already scanned the news but he liked listening to the sound of her voice. "You could all sleep in Callaghan's house tonight," he suggested. "It's nice and sound."

"It's got wood floors," someone called out.

"Callaghan won't be back until summer," Frank told her.

"Won't he mind if we use his house?" Taylor asked.

"It ain't Callaghan's," Roily explained. "He just took a liking to it. He ran the owners off years ago. They deeded the place to Lewis."

The freckle-faced young man named Billy stepped forward. "Whenever Callaghan comes to town, he stays in the house. No one knows how he gets inside. The house has four fancy glass windows, but none of them have been broken. He sure doesn't get in that way. There are locks on both doors, too. He's a crazy old mountain man," he added with a nod. "You don't want to be running into him."

"A real mountain man?" Taylor repeated the words in a whisper.

"I don't believe you should stay there unless your husband agrees. Where is Ross?" Frank asked.

"On an important errand," she answered. "He's really a mountain man?"

"Who?" Roily asked.

"Callaghan," she explained.

"He's a real one, all right," Roily confirmed with a nod.

"Would Mr. Lewis be willing to sell the house?" she asked then.

"He's wanting to sell it," Frank explained. "The couple who left made him their agent. Lewis holds the papers, and if he ever sells the place, he'll keep his cut and send the rest on to St. Louis. That's where the past owners were headed. You aren't thinking you want to buy the place, are you?"

"Lewis is the town's lawyer," Billy said.

Taylor was impressed. For a town this size to boast a legal advisor was quite a surprise. Then Frank pointed out the fact that Lewis had never had any formal schooling. He'd read a couple of books, followed a fancy attorney around for the year that he lived in Virginia City, and when he settled in Redemption, he put his own shingle out. Lawyers apparently didn't need diplomas.

"Does Mr. Lewis have specific office hours?"

The men found her question vastly amusing. When they stopped laughing, Frank explained Lewis didn't have an office. He owned the stable, and when he wasn't busy taking care of the horses, he took care of any legal matters.

"Why doesn't he read the paper for you?" Taylor asked then. "He charged too much money," Roily explained.

"Frank, I'm thinking she'll be safe enough. If Callaghan knows she's married to Ross, he'll leave her alone. He won't tangle with him."

Victoria came back into the general store with the twins trailing behind.

"Where's David Daniel?" Taylor asked.

"He's helping Hunter with the horses."

"I thought the boy's name was Daniel David," Frank commented. "I must have gotten it wrong."

Taylor shook her head. "You weren't wrong. He's both names until he decides which one he wants," she explained. "Mr. Roily, would you please direct me to Mr. Lewis's stable?"

"I'd be honored, Mrs. Ross."

Taylor turned to give Victoria a quick summary of the conversation she'd missed.

"Does the house have wooden floors?" she asked.

Roily told her it did. Victoria looked like she was going to swoon, so pleased was she with that bit of news.

One hour later, sight unseen, Taylor was the proud owner of a two-story house with wooden floors and four fancy glass windows. She and Victoria had also requested papers so that they could file for a hundred and sixty acres of land under the Homesteaders' Act. Lewis didn't believe either woman would qualify. Victoria was still a British subject and therefore might not be able to own land in America. He didn't know if Taylor could file either, since she was married and Lucas might have already filed.

It didn't take Taylor any time at all to come to the conclusion that Mr. Lewis was a complete nitwit when it came to understanding and interpreting the law. Even she realized that Lucas would have to sign the papers to transfer ownership, but Lewis was ready to record the deed on her signature alone. He used fancy words to muddle up the legal issue and hide his ignorance.

She insisted on taking the papers with her for her husband's signature. Lewis took the twenty dollars she gave him as a down payment. He congratulated her on her new home. She wasn't certain she owned anything, but she shook his hand anyway.

Hunter waited with Victoria and the children outside the stable. Taylor showed him the papers and then explained what she had done. He didn't try to argue with her or remind her that there was still time to turn around and go back to civilization. His reaction was actually quite bizarre. He laughed until tears came into his eyes.

Hunter, Victoria, and Daniel David walked down the center of the street. Taylor and the twins followed. Georgie needed her shoe retied, and by the time she got the child to stop dancing around her long enough for her to make a proper bow, the trio in front of her had made it all the way back to the general store.

Everyone wanted to see the house before nightfall. Hunter lifted Victoria up on the wagon seat and then put Daniel David next to her. He turned to wait for Taylor.

She caught hold of her daughters' hands and tried to quicken their pace. They walked toward the west. The sky was glorious with the sunset. A vibrant orange crown with red trimmings circled the sun and Taylor's breath caught in her throat while she stared up at the magnificent sight. She was entranced.

Georgie pulled her back to reality. "There's the man, Mama."

"What man, sweetheart?" she asked, barely pausing in her adoration to look down. "Our man, Mama," Allie said. Taylor came to a dead stop. Dear God, how could she have missed him? Their man, as Allie had called him, was standing in the center of the road. The distance was too great for her to see his expression. She guessed he was frowning.

"We're in for it now," she whispered.

She wanted to turn around and run for safety. She immediately pushed the idea aside. She wasn't afraid of Lucas. Yes, he would be angry with her, but after a little while, he'd see the rightness in what she'd done. She sincerely hoped he wouldn't kill her first.

She straightened her shoulders and started walking again. The closer she got, the more alarmed she became. He was dressed in buckskin and wore both of his guns in his gunbelt low on his hips. His hands were at his sides. She suddenly had the bizarre feeling that she was walking toward a showdown. Or a Shootout. Lucas had the advantage. Lord, she really needed to get hold of herself. It was the sunlight making him look magical and invincible to her. Golden streaks flowed all around him. By the trickery of the sunset, it appeared he had just walked out of the sun.

She was finally close enough to see his expression. Oh, God, he was furious all right. His eyes were as cold as ice.

She didn't know what she was going to say to him. She glanced over at Hunter and saw his smug now-you're-going-to-get-it expression and wished she was close enough to kick him. She continued to walk toward Lucas and finally came to a stop when she was just a few feet away.

They stared at each other for long seconds. Taylor noticed he was covered with a layer of dust. He had a beard, too. It made him look all the more intimidating. And wonderful. She was so happy to see him again she wanted to weep. He was everything she could ever want in a man, but what stunned her speechless was the realization that Lucas was beginning to look like a mountain man.

"Mama?" Georgia called out her name.

She snapped out of her trance. Then she took a deep breath, plastered a smile on her face, and looked down at her babies to give them her instruction.

"Say hello to your papa."